Lisa Castellanos

Senior Organizer | Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action

Lisa is a 2nd generation Xikana born and raised in California by way of México and the Arizona Sonora desert. Lisa’s over 30 years of organizing experience includes delving into issues such as immigrant rights, quality education in public schools, welfare and employment rights, housing and transit issues and economic citizenship projects. Lisa was trained in community organizing through the Center for Third World Organizing’s (CTWO) Minority Activist Apprenticeship in the late 1980’s. They are a core member of the Arizona Mad Moms, and the architect of their base building approach. She resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with their son and dog, Sol.

Presentations from Facing Race 2024

Organizing for Healthcare Equity and Access by Impacted Communities of Color

Too often, people of color face bias and barriers when trying to access vital healthcare services. Racial disparities in the healthcare sector are deep and persistent, reflecting systemic inequities. Individuals are often blamed for their own health outcomes and burdened with navigating a complex and unjust healthcare system. How can communities most impacted by healthcare disparities (especially people of color and low-income communities) organize and advocate for the services they need and deserve? This session will provide the space to explore different community organizing approaches that: explicitly addresses racial systemic inequities people face when seeking vital quality healthcare; centers the leadership needs of directly-impacted people of color and marginalized communities, and, focuses on building grassroots collective power to challenge and transform existing health care institutions and policies in order to make them more accessible, affordable, and equitable. We'll explore grassroots organizing initiatives in the healthcare sector and invite participants to share experiences, strategies, and insights.

Speakers: Terrence Keleher, Gary Delgado, Lisa Castellanos

Presentations from Facing Race 2012

Consumer Based Strategies for Advancing Racial Justice

The use of consumer boycotts and providing alternatives (?buy-cotts?) are signature strategies of racial justice projects of the past. This workshop will highlight current campaigns and initiatives that employ these strategies in advancing racial justice in the present. How are these current-day examples similar to and/or improve upon the strategies of the past? The workshop will tease out lessons from these initiatives and how they can instructive in crafting racial justice strategies in the age of globalization.

Speakers: Lisa Castellanos, Tracy Van Slyke, Jamal Watkins